Press Trust Of India
New Delhi: Oct 25: In a blunt message, India and the US has asked Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil, declaring that its terror havens would not be tolerated.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, after holding talks here Wednesday, said Islamabad needed to take concrete action against terror groups to ensure peace and security in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.
Tillerson said he had asked the Pakistani leadership to take action against terror groups and said an enhancement in their capabilities may pose a threat to the government in Islamabad.
“Terror havens will not be tolerated,” Tillerson said at a joint press conference here with Swaraj.
Swaraj said Pakistan must dismantle the terror infrastructure, insisting that any country backing terror groups must be held accountable.
A host of issues, including ways to boost defence and security cooperation and ramp up trade ties, were discussed by Swaraj and Tillerson.
The US Secretary of State said the Trump administration was ready to share its latest technology for India’s military modernisation, adding that it looked forward to discussing deals for F16 and F18 fighter jets with New Delhi.
He said India was crucial to US-Afghanistan strategy and his government was looking at strengthening cooperation with India in the Indo-Pacific region.
Swaraj said she raised the issue of H1B visa with him and requested Tillerson not to take any action that might adversely affect Indians.
Tillerson also referred to last month’s visit of US Secretary of Defence James Mattis. “He and I look forward to the inaugural Two-plus-Two dialogue early next year,” he said.
“We look forward to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as we both promote a rules-based approach to commerce and a transparent and sustainable approach to development. We are glad to be joined in this effort by our close partner Japan,” he said. Navies of the three countries participate in the annual Malabar exercise in the Indian Ocean region, which is watched with suspicion by China.
The US Secretary of State, who was in Afghanistan on Monday on an unannounced visit, also said the US acknowledges with gratitude India’s “generous contributions” to the development of Afghanistan.
including construction of the Afghan Parliament building.
Tillerson said in addition to mutual partnership for regional and global stability, India and the US continue to benefit from strong economic bonds.